Carmel Magazine May 2023

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LUX LAB HAIR + BODY

Lux Lab Hair + Body is a high-end salon and med-spa that offers a range of services for beauty and wellness. Owned by Sarah Cooper and Corey Sleet, the salon provides exceptional service and results. Sarah oversees business development, growth strategy, community outreach, and philanthropy, while Corey is the Master Stylist and Director of Education for the salon, training stylists to ensure consistency in trends, techniques, and best practices. Megan Reider, Lux’s Clinical Director, Nurse Practitioner & Master Injector oversees the entire med-spa and team of nurses, medical assistants, medical estheticians and all lasers, injections, body contouring and aesthetic services.

The salon offers top-of-the-line hair services, including haircuts, hair colors, bridal hair, styling, anti-frizz treatments, and extensions. The med-spa, which opened in January 2023, offers a wide array of services, including body sculpting, permanent fat reduction, injectables, laser hair removal, skin tightening and rejuvenation, facials, laser genesis, vascular laser therapy and pelvic floor therapy.

One of the most popular treatments offered at Lux Lab is the EmSculpt NEO, a noninvasive device that eliminates 30% of fat cells permanently and builds muscle with a unique combination of radiofrequency and high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) in a single 30-minute treatment. One treatment of EmSculpt NEO is equivalent to 20,000 crunches, and it can address a client’s abdomen, glutes, inner or outer thighs, triceps, or biceps. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, and professional athletes like Rob Gronkowski use this device because it allows the body to get results beyond what the brain allows.

EmSella is another non-invasive treatment offered at Lux Lab, which greatly improves the quality of life for those suffering from urinary incontinence issues or seeking improvement in sexual wellness or overall pelvic floor health. Eli Hartman, who had bladder issues in her mid-60s, received EmSella treatment in November 2022, and the results were immediate. The benefit is long-lasting.

TruSculpt ID is a non-invasive body contouring treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to permanently reduce fat and sculpt a client’s body. It is a safe and effective way to get the shape you

Writer / Alli Donovan

Photographer / Sarah Browning

Co-Founders: Sarah Cooper & Corey Sleet

want without surgery or downtime.

Lux Lab’s injectables, such as Botox, filler, and Kybella, provide clients with a more youthful and refreshed appearance. There is always demand for Botox and filler. Master Injector, Megan Reider, NP, offers consultations involving total facial harmonization, creating symmetry, balance and a more youthful appearance. “We’ve noticed an increase in demand recently to reduce submental fat under the chin and tighten skin there,” Cooper says. Kybella or TruSculpt ID are two efficient services for just that. Topping that off with Radio Frequency Microneedling, using the Secret RF, to tighten up skin from the inside, out, can take ten years off and really provide new confidence in male and female clients. The salon also offers laser hair removal, CO2 Fractional Lasers, Diamond Glow Facials, and IPL/BBL treatments.

Something different Lux Lab brings to its guests is the Lux Pass Membership. It’s not only an affordable monthly membership ($79/month) giving members exclusive pricing (15-70% off) for services they might think would be out of the budget,

but the perks are truly exceptional. Lux Pass Members receive two complimentary TruSculpt ID (submental) treatments, a complimentary Diamond Glow Facial (a deep exfoliating facial leaving guests glowing for 2-4 weeks), complimentary monthly blowouts, and access to the EmSella device for only $75 dollars per service.

“We are providing attainable luxury beauty and wellness to our guests,” Cooper says. “We are helping people look and feel their best with services that are minimally invasive yet highly effective and rewarding them with amazing perks that keep them feeling great everyday. Whether it’s the monthly blowout or focusing on pelvic floor health, we take care of our Lux Lab Pass Members.”

Lux Lab’s business model ensures that every client receives the best care possible. Whether you are looking for a haircut to suit your face shape, hair color to enhance your eyes, get the body shape you’ve always wanted, reduce the signs of aging, or simply relax and rejuvenate, Lux Lab Hair + Body has something for you.

Clinical Director: Megan Reider, NP

Shelby Zborek, RN

TRUE COLOR

ARTIST NANCY KEATING CREATES MOSAIC INSTALLATION FOR CIVIC SQUARE PARKING GARAGE

Writer / Renee Larr

Photographer / Sarah Browning

Writer / Renee Larr

Photographer / Sarah Browning

The City of Carmel seeks to enhance the area’s structures through exquisite artwork. Two mosaic works by local contemporary mosaic artist Nancy Keating are displayed atop the new parking garage at Civic Square in Carmel. The garage, regarded as Indiana’s most cutting-edge parking structure, is a marvel in and of itself.

Keating discovered her love of mosaic artwork in the mid-1990s, and honed her skills studying at the Institute of Mosaic Art in California. She traveled to California for several weeks at a time to study under well-known mosaic artists Laurel True and Isaiah Zagar. She is a juried Indiana artisan, Carmel Arts & Design artisan and Indiana Glass Trail artisan.

During the past seven years, she has collaborated with the city on several works of art. She believes she was selected to create the murals because she is a local artist with a history of collaborations with the city. She says she went in blind, not knowing precisely what the city was looking for in terms of design.

The first piece, measuring 6’x40’, was installed in March. The second is 8’x20’ in size and was installed in April. Last fall, Keating began the design process by sketching out potential ideas. She then collaborated with a graphic designer to incorporate the design into the architect’s plan.

“This is a labor of love for me,” Keating says. “These are by far the largest two murals I’ve ever created. The space was a challenge because most of the time, mosaic murals are horizontal, and the space I was working with is vertical. It’s also viewable from very far away. I had to keep those in mind when designing. The design appears as if it’s flowing up to the heavens and is never-ending.”

She titled the final product “Cosmic Flow” to represent the universe’s energy flow. The south arch features bright, cool colors like blue, green and turquoise. She utilized warm colors to create energy in the east arch. She says she procures her various mirror pieces, glass tiles and opaque sheet glass from Kokomo Opalescent Glass.

Keating feels like a mother hen of the two pieces, and couldn’t wait to see the finished installation. She said it’s amazingly gratifying to see something she has worked on for so long, with painstaking precision, come to fruition.

“It’s a real thrill to be able to drive by these every day as a Carmel resident and see them,” Keating says.

The garage is located on Veterans Way and is visible to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. It boasts 303 parking spots, public electric vehicle charging stations, a solar canopy, and LED lighting to illuminate spots for drivers.

Keating says she shares mosaic joy by teaching online and in-person workshops and classes. She also sells her artwork through exhibits, her Carmel studio, and her website. She took a short break from educating while designing the two murals, but says she plans to return soon.

For more information, visit mosaicsgarden.com.

HEALTH-CENTRIC

MORTER HEALTHCENTER HELPS PATIENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND EDUCATION

Morter HealthCenter is all about teaching patients to live well and enjoying life to the fullest. Chiropractors Dr. Scott Cooper and Dr. Vicki Knapke specialize in educating their patients about six essential areas of life in which choices can make the difference between vibrant health and varying levels of dis-ease.

Morter HealthCenter was founded in 1987 by Dr. Sue Morter and has been in West Carmel since May of 2007.

The doctors practice a variety of gentle chiropractic methods, but specialize in Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique (BEST for short) a non-force neuro-emotional balancing procedure. The clinic is dedicated to promoting wellness and continuous self-healing within the body. Patients visit Morter HealthCenter for many reasons: physical pain or symptomatology, recovering from illness or injuries, as well as for help creating a wellness lifestyle in alignment with their personal goals and desires.

At Morter HealthCenter, first-time patients receive a consultation with either Dr Cooper or Dr Knapke; a thorough examination which includes reflex and range of motion testing, standard Chiropractic orthopedic and postural testing; neurological testing including thermal and SEMG scans; X-Rays if necessary; and a saliva pH test.

On the second visit patients receive a report of findings in which their examination, scan and pH results are discussed in detail and a

recommendation for a care plan if appropriate. Treatment can begin on that day if desired.

Something unique at Morter HealthCenter is that Drs Cooper and Knapke bring their 60-plus years of combined experience to listening to their patients, listening to the patients’ bodies, and teaching patients how to listen to their own bodies.

“Simply put, we teach people how to live well by instructing them on what it is that their bodies are asking for,” Knapke explains.

“Evening With the Doctor” classes are offered to the public every Tuesday night at 7 pm. This free foundational class taught by either Dr. Cooper or Dr. Knapke, provides information on services, the holistic health perspective, and Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique.

“The moment when a person realizes that feeling better is possible is my favorite part of the line of work I’m in,” Knapke says. “That’s what I want everyone to know. No matter how bad it feels, or how long it has felt that way, it is possible for your body to heal and for you to feel better.”

Come feel better with Morter HealthCenter. Attend an Evening with a Doctor class at their location, 10439 Commerce Drive, Suite 140 in Carmel. To schedule a consultation and evaluation, visit morterhealthcenter.com or call their office at 317-872-9300.

Dr. Vicki Knapke

Dr. Scott Cooper

Nominations Now Open!

TOP LOCAL

NOMINATE YOUR TOP LOCAL BUSINESSES

We are looking for your favorite local businesses to feature in our Towne Post Network magazines, website, and social media. Each month, we will acknowledge Townies’ Top Local Award recipients and list them in our monthly print publications. There is no cost to be recognized, we’re just looking for the businesses that locals feel are the best!

HOW TO QUALIFY

To be considered, your business must be nominated by someone other than the owner(s) of the business. Those with the most nominations will be considered before others, so make sure you get your most loyal local fans to nominate your business. When being considered, Towne Post Network editorial staff will review the following criteria to insure these qualifications are met:

Online Ranking 4.5 Stars or Higher

Listing on TownePost.com

Supports Local Charities

Locally Owned

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A Car Collector’s Dream Home in West Carmel

Expansive 10,000+ sq. ft. luxury home in the Waterfront of West Clay’s gated section features a 9-car garage for the enthusiast/ collector. Entertainer’s kitchen large enough for staff or the adventurous chef. Wood coffered ceiling compliments statement pendants and expansive island plus gracious dining room. A glass elevator lifts you to the wood beamed upper-level balcony overlooking the indoor/outdoor basketball court. Stately primary suite and expansive bath featuring standalone tub and separate vanities. Additional living area with separate entry features a full kitchen and bath. Expansive outdoor living at its best. Listed at $3.6 million.

13250

317-215-7208 greymattersofcarmel.com

MENTAL STRENGTH MATTERS!

GREY MATTERS OF CARMEL USES NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH

term or permanent change.

According to 2021 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Indiana data, one in every five U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year, and 1,129,000 adults in Indiana have a mental health condition. Additionally, one in every six U.S. children experiences a mental health disorder each year, and 90,000 Hoosiers aged 12 to 17 have depression.

Grey Matters of Carmel is here to help.

Grey Matters is a neurofeedback therapy clinic that helps and supports both children and adults, to mitigate symptoms related to various neurological and mental disorders like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, apraxia, migraines and more.

But what is neurofeedback therapy?

Neurofeedback is a powerful technology that trains the brain on what to do and uses its own reward system, thereby teaching and practicing optimal performance for long-

This technique teaches you how to identify counterproductive brain activity patterns, so you can consciously disrupt and replace them with healthier, more balanced brain activity patterns.

Neurofeedback ultimately helps you and your brain self-regulate more efficiently and effectively in virtually any situation. What does a session at Grey Matters look like? Good news - it’s really simple.

Writer / Alli Donovan

Photographer / Sarah Browning

Hazel Dell Parkway, Suite 102 Carmel, IN

NEUROFEEDBACK EXPLAINED

While complex brainwave activity is happening inside your head, patients are able to sit comfortably in a chair and let the sensors placed on the scalp do all the work.

These sensors are only reading electrical signals produced by your brain and transmitting them to a computer. The computer software distinguishes the optimal brainwave pattern from the suboptimal which creates the sounds, or reward system. It’s your brain, training

itself. This is all done while you are either watching relaxing images, reading a book or just having “me time.” For the kids, the staff provides coloring books, puzzles, legos or even suggests bringing homework.

During neurofeedback, patients can actually hear the sounds of the brainwave patterns in real time as the brain responds to images, sounds and other input.

When the brain produces favorable brainwave patterns, patients will hear special musical tones. When your brain is not as harmonious, the sounds distort. This instantaneous feedback notifies each patient’s brain on what it needs to do to make the music more harmonious. With each session, the brain is able to practice efficiency, coordination and balance. Over time, patients are able to noticeably improve the control over their thoughts and actions.

Courtney Boyer has over 20 years of experience in business management, digital marketing, psychology, nutrition and nursing. She is the founder of Grey Matters in Carmel. She is a licensed registered nurse, a certified brain health coach, certified

health and wellness coach and a certified holistic nutritionist. She is also trained in infra-slow fluctuation, IFEN, sLORETA neurofeedback, and qEEG acquisition and analysis.

She is the perfect advocate for Grey Matters, and if that doesn’t convince you, she is the mother of Greyson (Grey), who is 10 years old and has apraxia and ADHD.

Childhood apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to speak. They have difficulty carrying out the movement to create speech.

“At age 2, Grey was diagnosed with apraxia,” Boyer says. “From age 2 to 5 we were in speech therapy, and we weren’t really making any progress.”

Her digital marketing agency began working with a neurofeedback clinic on a website. As she was learning about the company, the lightbulb turned on. She found a possible solution for her son.

“Within the first couple of weeks of neurofeedback, Greyson was making eye contact - something we had never gotten before,” she says. “Words were starting to come out. Granted, they were choppy and missing some syllables, but he was making sense.”

Grey had 30 sessions at that clinic before Boyer was presented with the opportunity to open her own clinic in Carmel. “That same exact clinic that treated my children and myself encouraged me to open my own clinic in 2020, so with their help and

Alicia Murphy and her son Aidan

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REAL-TIME The EEG data is displayed on a screen while you train in real-time.

ANALYSIS The EEG data is analyzed to detect YOUR optimal brain wave frequency.

FEEDBACK

When your brain waves are in optimal frequency, a feedback reward is given via sound.

LEARNING

Your brain learns a pattern from the feedback rewards and learns to stay in this frequency.

EEG Your brain’s electrical activity is monitored using sensors placed on the scalp. OF CARMEL

encouragement, I opened Grey Matters in January of 2021,” she says.

Grey Matters has kept growing ever since. Having opened in the middle of the pandemic with only two treatment chairs, Boyer has expanded to six treatment chairs within the facility. She is also partnering with AlphaOmega Wellness and Dr. Dee Bonney on opening a second location in Greenwood in August 2023.

Greyson continues to thrive in his treatment plans. He speaks beautifully for his age and knows how to both read and writean opportunity made possible through his neuroplasticity treatment sessions. You would never even know he faced any challenges thanks to neurofeedback.

The staff at Grey Matters is highly trained in brain-based assessments and treatments. From the moment a patient walks in the door, a Grey Matters staff member is there to support not only the patient, but also the family of the person undergoing the treatment.

“Grey Matters has made a significant impact on my family, and it’s a wonderful resource for the community,” says Alicia Murphy, mother to 7-year-old Aidan, who has been a patient at Grey Matters since November of 2022.

Aidan is a first-grader who is very bright, but

sometimes his actions would constrict his growth and his focus in school. He would struggle to sit still, find it difficult to focus on what is going on in the classroom, and sometimes would be off in his own world.

Murphy started researching alternative options to help his behavior and found Grey Matters, and they are pleased with his results so far.

“Grey Matters is just a place that Aidan enjoys going to,” Murphy explains. “He loves going there, the staff is just so kind to him, and I really think he just likes how he feels and his mind feels after each session. I also love the amount of support they provide to parents. They answer all questions. They are there if you need someone to talk to because this affects the whole family.”

Ethan Russell mentions that Grey Matters is “completely life-changing” for him. Ethan is an 18-year-old who has suffered five concussions within his lifetime so far. He explains that his concussions caused him to have severe anxiety, depression, anger issues, sleeplessness and more.

His mother, Deanna, became very concerned about him and his mental state. “He had become a shell of who he was,” Deanna says. “He was not able to function as a person.”

“I was just existing,” Ethan says. That’s when

they knew they had to do something.

That’s when Deanna found Grey Matters. The team knew exactly how to handle Ethan’s condition and they were ready to help. He enrolled in Grey Matters in June of 2022, and he continues to improve with every session.

“They are phenomenal,” Deanna says. “It has been nothing short of miraculous. Ethan is a completely different person since starting his treatment.”

Ethan receives treatments for his postconcussion syndrome two times per week, and the difference has been life-changing. He is able to focus better, has significantly fewer headaches and is getting his personality back.

“The staff wants to help me,” Ethan says. “It’s unbelievable. They want to see me. They enjoy answering my questions and seeing my progress. They are the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Let Grey Matters help you or your loved one today. Visit greymattersofcarmel.com for additional details on neurofeedback treatments, to view info on the staff and to schedule a consultation.

Grey Matters is located at 13250 Hazel Dell Parkway, Suite 102 in Carmel. They can be reached at 317-215-7208.

“GREY MATTERS HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON MY FAMILY, AND IT’S A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.”

—ALICIA MURPHY

HARMONY POOLS

Writer / Natalie Platt Photographer / Krystal Dailey

Noel Terry-Thimlar grew up in the pool industry. Harmony Pools is a family business with 160-plus years of combined experience among the staff members, most of whom are family members.

As a third-generation family business, Harmony Pools opened their first retail store in May of 2022 in Zionsville - a location that makes sense to the family.

“My husband, Gabe Thimlar, is a Zionsville High School graduate and has lived in the community,” Terry-Thimlar says. “We lived and worked in Zionsville before moving to Lebanon. We love Boone County and have a heart for this community.”

Harmony Pools makes donations to local community charities on a quarterly basis and is always willing to help with community support. It’s important to the business that Boone County and Zionsville residents have opportunities to gain insight and education from Harmony Pools, and to make sure they can “swim in harmony” - ensuring every swimming pool experience is a good one.

With the addition of the store, Harmony

Pools is expanding beyond their current pool maintenance packages (testing water chemistry, inspecting equipment, as well as clearing and cleaning out debris and water) and custom-built swimming pools with retail items you might not expect when you walk into a pool store. The retail store offers bath salts, handcrafted loofah soap, greeting cards, and a signature Handcrafted by Harmony collection of soaps and candles. Online ordering for in-store pickup or delivery is available and right now, and Harmony Pools is offering free delivery on orders over $100 until June 1.

Terry-Thimlar notes that pool owners should always be proactive and not reactive. Customers can schedule services online via the customer portal, where you can request, pay and shop all in one place. Once spring and summer passes, she encourages clients to continue checking on their pool, even if it’s cold out. Harmony Pools offers a winter maintenance program for those who might travel to warmer climates during the winter, and the team suggests stocking up on pool floats, supplies and other items from the retail store during their December super sale.

“We have had a huge outreach from the community for our services, and we’re hiring,” Terry-Thimlar says. “We need more

people to fulfill the demand from the surrounding area. We are working very hard to make sure Zionsville and our communities are well-maintained and taken care of. We feel that we are all family at Harmony Pools and will always help our clients find what they need.”

Although Harmony Pools has been open since last May, there will be a grand opening with the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce on Monday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m.

THE RUN OF HIS LIFE

77-YEAR-OLD CARMEL RESIDENT STEVE GILBERT RUNS THE BOSTON MARATHON

Marathon, Gilbert said, “I can do that!” And he did. He went on to participate in a number of other races including 10Ks, minis and full marathons.

This year, Gilbert qualified under a neurological exception to run the Boston Marathon, making the 77-year-old one of the oldest runners at the prestigious race. Other running legends there included Bob Kennedy, Amby Burfoot and Bill Rodgers.

“There were 35,000 runners and only 20 were older than I am,” Gilbert says.

Several years ago, Gilbert watched a documentary on the Boston Marathon. Halfway through the race, up in a yard full of spectators, a little boy was yelling, “Go, old guy in the blue shirt!”

“I thought how thrilling it would be to be the old guy in the blue shirt,” says Gilbert, who likes to travel, play golf, and hang out with his grandkids and great-grandkids.

“The thing about running is that the stopwatch and the yardstick are constants,” Gilbert says. “Having to gauge my fight against Parkinson’s, I’ve got a good yardstick over a dozen years that I can refer to now. Naturally, just by aging, I’m going to get slower, but if my age-graded results are comparable, maybe I’m making headway in keeping Parkinson’s at bay.”

Gilbert credits his continuing improvements at his age to what he calls “juvenile exuberance.”

“I set all my PRs the year I turned 70,” he says. “It’s been a fun game. I feel like a giddy teenager.”

Steve Gilbert lived a rather sedentary life until 2004, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 64. In 2007, he got involved with Rock Steady Boxing, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit gym, because research has found that forced, intense exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s.

“I’ll never forget the first time my Rock Steady coach said, ‘Steve, you can do this,’ and I found I could,” says Gilbert, who went on to challenge himself in other ways, too. When his brother, Bruce, a longtime runner, came to town to run the Geist Half

Years ago, doctors recommended drugs and rest to treat Parkinson’s, but the Study in Parkinson’s Disease of Exercise (SPARX) indicates that it’s beneficial for early-stage Parkinson’s patients to exercise at 80 to 85% of maximum heart rate three days a week, to improve neural connections in the brain and delay Parkinson’s progression.

Gilbert says he runs not only for his own well-being, but also to be an example for others facing challenges in life. He is inspired by his wife, Donna, his family, his Cyntheanne Christian Church family,

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Whitney Moore

Battling Parkinson's, Steve Gilbert recently ran the Carmel Marathon in April.

Battling Parkinson's, Steve Gilbert recently ran the Carmel Marathon in April.

Matt Ebersole with Personal Best Training, Fishers Running Club, other Rock Steady boxers, and anyone who perseveres through challenges.

“All these people play an important role in maintaining my momentum,” says Gilbert, noting that he’s glad he has not suffered from depression, which frequently afflicts Parkinson’s patients. “I’ve not let Parkinson’s define me. Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox both said, ‘Don’t pity me,’ and I feel the same. I’ve had a good life.”

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ORDER’S UP

UPTOWN CAFE OPERATES WITH COMMUNITY AND QUALITY IN MIND

When Jonathon Smith was 16 years old, he realized he needed to find a job if he wanted to get his own car. In 1998 Smith got a job at Sunrise Cafe in Carmel, working the toaster to save up the money he needed to purchase a vehicle. Smith couldn’t have imagined that his high school job would lead to the ownership of several restaurants of his own, 25 years later.

“My parents told me if I wanted to get a car, I needed to get a job,”

Smith says. “My best friend told me his uncle owned a restaurant and that’s how I got the job. A few years later, in 2002, I helped Scott Horsfield open the Fishers location of the Sunrise Cafe.”

Smith says he enjoyed the job and the other longtime, loyal employees, and decided to stick with it. In 2013 Smith and Horsfield opened a Sunrise Cafe location in Noblesville as partners. In 2015 Smith bought out Horsfield and changed the name to

Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Sarah Browning

Asia Spencer and Jonathon Smith

Uptown Cafe.

“Uptown Cafe is my version of Sunrise Cafe, but with a few subtle tweaks,” Smith says. “At Uptown we try to make everything homemade, from our condiments, dressings and sauces, and baked items like our cinnamon rolls and English muffins. That’s why I changed the name. The Uptown Cafe location in Noblesville is actually a historical landmark. It’s been there since 1932.”

Smith has since opened two other Uptown Cafe locations in Indianapolis and Carmel. He co-owns the restaurants with a group of friends he’s known since his days at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) High School. Smith says he appreciates the opportunity Horsfield gave him to own and operate restaurants, and he wants to continue that tradition with others.

“I’m turning around and paying that forward by allowing them to get into restaurant ownership,” Smith says. “I want to grow this into something that can be a career for all of us. The biggest concern was keeping this group of people together.”

The group purchased the Fishers Sunrise Cafe location in March. Smith says they will keep the restaurant’s name for now, but will start to change the menu slowly. The group will add homemade menu items and purchase ingredients from local businesses.

“I assumed the lease on the location from Scott for the next two years,” Smith says. “The name will stay the same for that period of time. After that, we will likely

Uptown Carmel

2271 Pointe Parkway (116th west of Keystone)

Uptown Noblesville 809 Conner Street (On the Courthouse Square)

Uptown Indy 6404 Rucker Road (64th & Binford)

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switch the name to Uptown Cafe. We’ll start slowly tweaking some of the products to more homemade items.”

Smith is a hands-on restaurant owner and works at a breakneck pace. He says he’s up at 2 a.m. and home at 7 p.m., ensuring things run smoothly in the day-to-day operations. He wasn’t planning on acquiring the Fishers location when he did, but it’s been a pleasant surprise.

“I’ve been working at this pace for the last two years,” Smith says. “I opened the Carmel location in 2021 so that store is only in its second year, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity when the Fishers acquisition came up.”

In 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Uptown Cafe received a Small Business Resilience Grant from the City of Noblesville and Mayor Chris Jensen. Smith says the funds not only helped with finances, but also raised staff morale. Uptown Cafe created The E.G.G. (Educational Gift Grant), to continue giving back to the community that so graciously gave to them.

“We hadn’t made any changes to our children’s menu in over a decade,” Smith says. “We decided to revamp the menu, donating the proceeds from the menu items to the local school systems in each area. We usually write a check around the holidays to give to the schools.”

His humble beginnings on the toaster, which led to the ownership of several restaurants, isn’t lost on Smith. He realizes he’s come full circle, but says he doesn’t think about it too much. Instead his focus is on growing the business.

“I’m very grateful for Scott bringing us all together, but I don’t think about how far I’ve come from high school,” Smith says. “It’s awesome, but my day-to-day focus is to be the best breakfast and lunch spot in central Indiana. I grew up loving the food and we wanted to continue that tradition. Three of the five owners of the Fishers location all went to HSE schools. My focus is to keep the group together and grow the business.”

Sunrise Cafe in Fishers is located at 9767 East 116th Street. For additional details, visit sunrisecafefishersin.com. For more information regarding Uptown Cafe, visit uptowncafes.com.

"MY DAY-TO-DAY FOCUS IS TO BE THE BEST BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SPOT IN CENTRAL INDIANA."

— JONATHON SMITH

DD BIRD

While on a flight to somewhere sunny, Donna Sweat and Amanda Thoeny found themselves in a familiar predicament. Their carry-on totes lacked top zippers to secure their belongings and pockets to keep essentials organized. When the plane took off, they watched as their carefully packed items rolled down the aisle. Fueled by embarrassment and frustration, they knew they could do better.

The mother-daughter duo was on the hunt for something they couldn’t find - a pretty and practical bag that could take them from work to vacation and everywhere in between. With Sweat’s background in manufacturing and wholesale management, and Thoeny’s technical proficiency, the two teamed up to found DD Bird, the Carmel-based accessory company beloved by travelers, mothers, students and businesswomen alike.

Known for their premium fabrics and amazing organization, DD Bird’s signature bag design is the elevated tote you’ve been searching for. The mother-daughter founders are committed to creating chic and functional products for fellow women that stand the test of time. Inside you’ll find the perfect spot for your wallet, keys, sunglasses, laptop and much more. But perhaps customers’ favorite feature is the suitcase sleeve on the back that allows them to slide the bag over their luggage handle while on the go.

DD Bird’s signature tote is available in two sizes, the Nash and the Charlotte. Each design begins with selecting the most premium fabrics including lightweight and ultra durable nylon, luxurious velvet, and pebble leather. Coveted for its versatility, the mother-daughter team makes the bag you reach for every morning, to enhance your day.

Since launching on Mother’s Day in May of 2020, DD Bird has garnered notable features with both QVC and HSN, and was selected out of thousands of applicants for its Small Business Spotlight. Sweat, 55, of Carmel, and Thoeny, 29, of Noblesville, have big plans to grow their budding business and continued mother-daughter collaboration.

“I’m frequently asked what it’s like working with my mom,” Thoeny says. “Mothers and daughters have complex relationships overflowing with adoration and inherit honesty, trust, and occasional strife. We love one another strongly but can argue with one another just as strongly. Our success lies in our common passion to create the best products imaginable for women, products that we would dream to have ourselves that aren’t currently available.”

“When creating new products, we have this fun banter that allows us to bounce ideas off of one another until we elevate it to something truly exceptional,” Sweat says. “We wholeheartedly trust each other’s input and ideas, regardless of how crazy they might be. We both have high passion for DD Bird and even higher standards for

what we deliver to our customers. We are stronger as a mother-daughter team because we share similar style and taste, making our bags truly multigenerational and widely loved. We want our customers to feel at ease and confident while taking on their day with their favorite handbag in tow.”

“There’s nothing better than taking on new challenges and celebrating accomplishments with my momma,” Thoeny adds. “The problems become less daunting and the milestones become that much sweeter. When we found out we were selected for QVC and HSN, we were in the driveway jumping up and down and screaming excitedly. Our neighbors probably thought we were nuts, but we both can’t help but smile and laugh when we think of it.”

Writer / Shelly Sack Photography Provided

CRAFTY SOLUTIONS

CHAIRS OF HONOR HELPS TO PRESERVE THE STORIES AND LEGACIES OF MILITARY MEMBERS

Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photographer / Krystal Dailey

Less than 1% of Americans serve in the Armed Forces, which means many people don’t have personal experience with a friend or family member who has served. While most Americans extend appreciation when they learn that someone is serving or has served, few ask questions about that service. As a result, when our military members retire to civilian life, they lose the opportunity to connect with people about their experiences and we lose the opportunity to get a glimpse into military service.

One local retired Army officer has discovered a unique mission to honor those who have served our country, and he hopes it will preserve their stories and bridge the gap with all Americans.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Roy Adams, who served for 20 years including two tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq, was raised by his father, an Army officer, who believed that all Americans should serve their country. Adams served his country and intended to live this motto out in retirement.

“I was born into a strong military family background that has served generationally,” Adams says. “Both sides of my parents’ family have a family member that has served in every conflict our nation has been involved with, dating back to the Revolutionary War.” Military life is all Adams has ever known, so finding a way to continue his passion for serving the country was crucial to his retirement plans.

The path to finding his calling after active duty would take him through a stint as a private school headmaster where his son attended. Adams knew it was not his calling, but the school needed someone so he put his military training, leadership and management skills to work and served the school for four years.

Then Adams and his family embarked on an 18-month RV tour to see the country, to give him time to think about what he wanted to do next and where he wanted to live. He discovered that he had an interest in furniture making, and found a six-month, intensive course in the state of Washington. At the conclusion of the course Adams,

along with his wife, Amy, and son, decided to settle down in Westfield to start his furniture-making business, Adams Custom Woodworking.

He began posting on social media about his new woodworking business, and customers were not the only ones to take notice. “My retired commander called one evening and told me that he had noticed what I was up to, and he asked me if I would make him a custom rocker like the ones we sat in every evening after combat at our living quarters in Iraq,” Adams says.

“Each night, despite the long, stressful days of operations, the battalion leadership team would gather outside our [container housing units] to process the events of the day,” he continues. “They found great comfort in the handcrafted rocking chairs made by local contractors. Despite the chaotic circumstances they often endured, the chairs served as a comforting way to decompress and talk about the day. Eventually we would end up talking about our lives and loved ones. These were good memories.”

That is when he had a profound realization, and wondered what would happen to their stories after they are gone. That was the moment Adams knew he had found a way to continue serving the country. The power of those stories shared while sitting in chairs brought it full-circle.“I could honor veterans through preserving handcrafted, heirloomquality chairs that would be uniquely tied to their stories for generations to come,” he says.

Adams got right to work and established Chairs of Honor, which became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in January of 2022. Adams has two veterans making chairs now, in Kentucky and Colorado. His intention is to establish a network of makers in every state to impact more veterans, which in turn will help more Americans get to know the veterans living in their communities. While it is a charitable organization, Adams intends to run it like a business. He formed an advisory board and quickly mobilized.

His first chair was naturally for his commander, who inspired this mission.

“I WAS BORN INTO A STRONG MILITARY FAMILY BACKGROUND THAT HAS SERVED GENERATIONALLY. BOTH SIDES OF MY PARENTS’ FAMILY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS SERVED IN EVERY CONFLICT OUR NATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, DATING BACK TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.”

He delivered the chair personally and recorded his story, returning with a clear sense of purpose.

“I have learned a lot about the making of these custom chairs,” Adams says. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail is fitting of military duty, which relies on careful attention to detail. Knowing that we are preserving the craft of chair making, which dates back to the 17th century, is also very gratifying. Handcarving a chair can take anywhere from 60 to 80 hours to complete and each chair is self-funded, so the need for donations is great.”

The Chairs of Honor process matches a furniture maker to a veteran, to create a unique chair and provide a storytelling experience to preserve that veteran’s individual story of service and sacrifice.

Adams says the challenge is for veterans to accept that being nominated through Chairs of Honor is meant as a way for veterans to preserve their stories, which he hopes will bridge the gap in the public’s perception of military service and inspire more Americans to serve their country. Adams believes that if we can encourage more men and women to listen to veterans about their service, experiences and stories, we will rely less on the images we see and more on the faces and voices of the stories we hear.

To learn how you can support Chairs of Honor, go to chairsofhonor.com, and follow Chairs of Honor on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, where Adams will document the entire process of the next nominated veteran.

“FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME ALL OVER AGAIN.”

VIEWABLE AND a r t DOABLE

Experience the arts in Hamilton County. View a wide variety of creative and free public art throughout the county. Immerse your inner artist in art classes, u-paint shops and festivals. Plus, sing along to your favorite songs with live music—from free to famous. With three recognized state cultural districts, no matter where you go in Hamilton County, experience the arts.